The St. John Macomb-Oakland Hospital parking lot on Dequindre Road just south of 12 Mile Road has a fantastic outdoor eatery.

It’s a free for the taking, all-you-can eat limited menu buffet that is open all day, every day from dawn to dusk and has the fastest service imaginable — even faster than the nearby freaky-fast Jimmy John’s.

Why do I share that secret fact? Here’s why!

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Just one mile north of that busy urban hospital parking lot is a nature area that opened as part of Oakland County Parks and Recreation system Monday. The 2,400-foot log cabin and the 38 acres of Friendship Woods west of Dequindre on the south side of 13 Mile Road have become part of Red Oaks County Park, the most urban of the Oakland County Parks. Red Oaks is a park perhaps best known for its waterpark and golf course. The main section of Red Oaks and the Red Oaks Dog Park are on the north side of 13 Mile Road.

Friendship Woods is bisected by 1.3 miles of paved trail and is an oasis for many resident and migratory birds. Among the birds that call this flatland woodland home is the magnificent Cooper’s hawk, an accipiter that hunts other birds. A pair of Cooper’s hawks flourishes in this protected urban surrounded nature landscape that is surprisingly serene and rich with aesthetic and “peacefulness” values.

And it is these hawks that are the primary customers at the hospital parking lot rooftop café. Pigeons are fond of perching on the roof, a fact noted by this writer, as well as some bird-savvy employees of the hospital and the hawks of Friendship Woods. The Coopers want their meat raw, fresh and feathered. Plump pigeons fit the bill.

Cooper’s hawks zip in fast. They have been clocked at 60 mph, and sometimes fly very low to avoid detection and then at the last moment change course for a stealthy, powerful attack. They snatch pigeons in their talons and squeeze them to death. Then it’s time to pluck feathers and feast on their gourmet sandwich. These urban-oriented Madison Heights hawks have adapted to what nature offers.

Adapting for survival is the way of all wildlife and in tough economic times the way of parklands as well. The park transition process that started with discussion back in 2009 after severe Madison Heights budget cuts has come to an end.

By 2010, Madison Heights had eliminated all staff from the nature center and the process of transfer to Oakland County accelerated with more discussions. A 25-year lease for $1 a year was recently signed with Oakland County Parks and Recreation to take over responsibility for the woods and nature center building now to be known as the Red Oaks Nature Center of Suarez Friendship Woods. The facility vision includes nature education and outdoor recreation and having Friendship Woods and the rest of Red Oaks County Park serve as a “gateway” to increase the regional draw to other Oakland County Parks and facilities for residents of Wayne and Macomb counties.

A few days ago, I walked under a steady rain to explore the trails and quickly realized this park is popular with many local residents — especially senior birders. While chatting with Oakland County Park’s personnel surveying the property, I noted a small, brilliant bird in thick shrubs near the small, artificial waterfall outside at the entrance to the nature center. A chat a bit later with local resident and fellow trail walker Louis Andraski confirmed the identification: An American redstart.

This boldly patterned warbler frequently flashes its orange and black wings and tail to flush insect prey from dense shrubs and foliage.

We walked on the looped trails, talking of birds and the upcoming transition. Every now and then Andraski would pause, raise his binoculars and point out another species in the woodland he loves. And I shared with him an image of the Cooper’s hawk I captured just a few minutes before we met. A pair of the hawks had zipped through the woods between the trees, one coming to rest partially hidden on a tree limb. I managed one quick picture, and he was off again, perhaps heading for brunch at St. John.

This forest habitat of hardwoods includes large tulip trees, cottonwoods and red oaks as well as a great variety of invasive species.

Ash trees have succumbed to the emerald ash borer and trees that present hazards to trail walkers are being removed. Some grape vines have crept up into the unmanaged forest canopy in much the same fashion as kudzu captures trees in the southern states. The understory is very thick in many locations, especially the northern section, but the trails are accessible.

At present there is not trailside interpretive signage. But expect changes in the future.

The trail is so flat and easy to negotiate that it’s perfect for a snail-paced walk with a grandparent and is an easy place to push a baby stroller.

The only obstacle I incurred was trailside fox squirrels that seemed to be begging for a handout. I declined their plea. Dogs are permitted but must be leashed at all times.

Good things are coming to Friendship Woods. Anyone that wants a taste of urban nature should sample this parkland in transition — adapting to survive not unlike the Cooper’s hawk.

FYI

Red Oaks Nature Center, formerly Madison Heights Nature Center, is at 30300 Hales St., nestled in the George W. Suarez Friendship Woods in Madison Heights. Hales is west of Dequindre on the south side of 13 Mile Road. Park is open dawn to dusk. Nature center does not have established hours. No fee for walks. A transitional period will lead to required Oakland County Park permits for vehicles. For information on all parks managed by Oakland County Parks, visit DestinationOakland.com.